Sheridan Bywater, 53, was stranded at Tenerife airport as strikes unfolded – forcing the budget airline to ground 80 flights on September 28.

She said the chaos had ruined her week-long family holiday, as she desperately tried to get home to Newcastle.

After the debacle, the Jarrow woman insisted: "I wouldn't fly with Ryanair again in a million years."

She claimed she only received three hours notice that her 7am Newcastle Airport flight was scrapped – causing "carnage" at the airport.

Ryanair has since apologised over the strikes, but said the airline had texted her three days before the flight about the potential disruptions.

Sheridan said: "The queues were just horrendous and almost at the other end of the airport.

"We were hearing rumours there were no flights until the following Thursday and panicking about how we would get home.

"We got a message at 1am saying the flight was cancelled, three hours notice, so what are you supposed to do?

She said they had been left "no option" but to go to the airport during the strike action.

Sheridan added: "When we were there, people were so squashed in you could see them breathing on each other's neck.

"And all they offered us was two bottles of water and a voucher for £3.50 – you can't by anything to eat in an airport for that."

The family was eventually flown back to Britain on Jet2 – landing hundreds of miles away in Birmingham.

The bill for three last-minute flights for Sheridan, her sister and brother-in-law, cost £550.

In total she fears the saga cost her over £600 – cash she's now waiting to see if she will get back.

A Ryanair spokesperson said the firm told Sheridan via text message three days before her flight that there would be "potential disruption" and that she had been offered a free move to another date.

"The flight was regrettably cancelled due to an unnecessary strike by a tiny minority of cabin crew and affected customers were informed by email and SMS text message and advised of their options of a refund, free move to the next available flight or free transfer to an alternative flight," they added.

"Refreshment vouchers and overnight accommodation were provided and this customer chose a refund of her air fare, which was processed.

"Ryanair sincerely apologised to those customers affected by these unnecessary strikes, which we did our utmost to avoid.”